The Penn State Research Foundation

Michael W Graham

Jason David Gibbs

William E Higgins

Kongkuo Lu

Kun-Chang Yu

This invention relates generally to medical imaging and, in particular, to a method and system for automatic lymph node station mapping, automatic path or route report generation. A computer-based system for automatically locating the central chest lymph-node stations in a 3D MDCT image is described. Automated analysis methods extract the airway tree, airway-tree centerlines, aorta, pulmonary artery, lungs, key skeletal structures, and major-airway labels. Geometrical and anatomical cues arising from the extracted structures are used to localize the major nodal stations. The system calculates and displays the nodal stations in 3D. Visualization tools within the system enable the user to interact with the stations to locate visible lymph nodes.

Medical image reporting system and method

This invention relates generally to medical imaging and, in particular, to a method and system for reconstructing a model path through a branched tubular organ. Novel methodologies and systems segment and define accurate endoluminal surfaces in airway trees, including small peripheral bronchi. An automatic algorithm is described that searches the entire lung volume for airway branches and poses airway-tree segmentation as a global graph-theoretic optimization problem. A suite of interactive segmentation tools for cleaning and extending critical areas of the automatically segmented result is disclosed. A model path is reconstructed through the airway tree.

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State College, PA, United States of America

Michael W Graham